Runaway Devil
41

Alec slept like the dead. He would stir occasionally, maybe to readjust his position, but then he would go still, the only movement was his rising and falling chest. He was quiet and peaceful when he slept. All of the muscles in his face relaxed, he didn't look so scary.

I pulled up next to a convenience store parking lot just outside of Memphis, its sign flickered and if you listened, you could hear the low whine of the bulbs straining. I threw the car in park and woke Alec. He had made good time during that day, but we lost it when I had to hunt. It was sometime in the middle of the night, the car's clock hadn't been reset in years. It read March 2003, 3:00 pm. The angel opened his eyes and yawned, trying to stretch the best he could in the cramped car. "We here?"

"Just outside of Memphis, the demons aren't far. How long do you need before we head out?"

"Give me ten minutes," He grunted as he climbed out of the low car. He wandered to the outskirts of the parking lot to relieve himself while I got out and stretched. I let Balan out of the backseat and thought about letting him fly above us. I felt bad, having him cooped up in the car with us when he could use his wings in broad daylight.

Alec shuffled back and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "You said they weren't far. Where are they?"

"An hour that way," I pointed over my shoulder. "They're loud as hell." Their energy screamed demon and they did nothing to cover their scents.

He nodded and leaned against the car. "Can you pinpoint where they are exactly?"

"We would have to get closer, but I could once we get within five miles." He rested his hand on the hood of the car.

"We should leave this here and come back for it once it's over."

The air whispering through my wings was refreshing and welcomed. I felt the bulk of my gun sitting in my waistband, full of all-new shiny bullets. Alec said they were a courtesy from Danny.

I closed my eyes and stayed close to Alec so I didn't drift off course. I steadied myself and inhaled slowly and deeply. My eyes rolled behind my closed lids and my chest progressively became numb. It crept up my shoulders and down my arms. I connected with my inner energy, letting it envelop my mental image of myself.

I sent it up and out, and watched it reach. It stretched forward and searched for similar energy. Like an animal, it caught a scent and hung on. With my eyes still closed, I let my energy guide me and picked up the pace. It brought us to a motel. It looked abandoned, but most did. The three of us landed in the parking lot and folded our wings in tight, Balan on my shoulder.

"Which room?" Alec's voice was rough in his throat. He wanted to get this done and move on just as much as I did.

"We're doing this one my way this time," I said. He opened his mouth to rebuttal but I cut him off. "You got the last one."

"You're the one that killed him."

"Yeah, but we approached it your way. It's my turn."

He let out a dramatic sigh and grumbled, "Fine." I smiled and led the way around the corner to room seven. The shades were drawn and stained, but a lamp was on, which cast shadows against the night. I held my finger up to my lips and drew my gun, flicking the safety off.

I planted my heel above the doorknob. It exploded inward, splintering both the door and the frame. A male was laying on the bed, the television remote still in his hand. A woman was typing on a computer at the small table off to the side, her choppy blonde hair caught my eye against the drab wallpaper. The male jumped out of bed, yelling and asking who the fuck we were.

"That's my question," I said, grinning with full fangs. The color drained from both of their faces. The woman stood slowly and stared at the barrel of my gun. Alec stood behind me, a knife drawn already.

"Shit," the woman said.

"You're her," the male's aggression faded into astonishment. "You're... you... the she-devil." I lunged for him, vaulting over the bed and targeting his knees. I heard a sickening crack as I obliterated his kneecap. I smashed him across the face with the butt of my gun, spraying blood onto the bedsheet.

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I heard Alec struggle with the woman. After I secured the male, I looked over my shoulder to see if he needed help. He had a fat lip and spit trickling down his forehead. I cringed and sucked in air through my teeth. "She getcha?" Alec growled and held the knife to her slender neck.

"Where are the others?" He asked them. For a moment, only their panting filled the silent room.

"Fuck you and your mother, you piece of shit angel," The male grunted from under my knee. I shoved the barrel of my gun into the back of his head and leaned in.

"Want to try that again?"

"Don't hurt him!" I looked at the woman, who now had the smallest tinge of fear in her eye.

"Who? Him?" I pointed at the back of his shoulder and pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang in our ears for a second, but it was soon followed by the woman's muffled yells. Alec had his hand secured over her mouth and nose, squeezing them in his palm to restrict airflow.

"Stop playing with your food, Kara." I rolled my eyes and stood, stepping over the writhing man.

"I'm going to ask one more time. Where are the others?"

The woman looked from her male friend, back up to me. Alec released her mouth. "Others?" I shook my head.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I told you I would only ask once more," I grabbed her shoulders, looked her in the eye, and slammed her chest into my rising knee. I felt the sternum crack like a piece of driftwood. I ripped her from Alec's hold and threw her to the ground. Her face was pale, and her eyes were permanently widened. She kept opening and closing her mouth, like a fish trying to breathe on a dry dock. She curled into herself and her male yelled for her. On my way over to her, I kicked him in the mouth with the soul of my boot. He would be shitting teeth for days. His cries gurgled as his mouth filled with the acrid taste of blood. I knelt next to her and smiled in her face. "There's at least four of you. Now you're as good as dead, but if you tell me where I could find them, I may be able to help you." She scowled at me through the pain.

"Traitor," She strained against her broken sternum. I stared at her, not saying anything.

"Deserter," The man spit at me. They didn't work for the same employer as Alec. These were volunteers on behalf of the council. My mind went blank, an absolutely clean slate. I felt my entire face shut down as I looked at her.

I rested my barrel on her forehead and looked at her with dead eyes. "And what tales will they tell of you?" I pulled the trigger and watched the blood stain the carpet, her eyes slowly rolling back in different directions.

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